The Qingshui Cliffs on the Suhua Highway, where Taiwan's mountains drop straight into the Pacific

Fred Hsu CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

Qingshui Cliffs

cliff

Qingshui Cliffs are a dramatic 21-kilometer stretch of coastal cliffs in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, rising to roughly 800 meters above the Pacific. Travelers come for the sweeping ocean panoramas, striking geology and roadside viewpoints along the Suhua Highway.

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Qingshui Cliffs essentials

Address: Xiulin, Hualien County, Taiwan

Qingshui Cliffs line the east coast of Eastern Taiwan and are part of Taroko National Park, forming one of Taiwan’s most dramatic coastal landscapes. The cliffs run for about 21 kilometers and present near-vertical rock faces that drop straight into the Pacific Ocean.

Geologically the outcrops are a metamorphic complex composed of marble, gneiss and green schist; the tallest nearby peak, Qingshui Mountain, rises about 2408 meters directly from the sea. The southern section of the cliffs borders the Suhua Highway, the coastal road that links Yilan and Hualien counties.

Visiting feels exposed and vast: viewpoints beside the highway give panoramic ocean and cliff-top views while the beaches far below are strewn with marble boulders and pebbles. The coast is actively eroded by waves, earthquakes and typhoons, so rockfall and changing conditions are part of the landscape.

The cliffs also have biogeographic significance: their scale and the Liwu River nearby act as dispersal barriers for some amphibian and reptile species, separating eastern and western clades in a few cases.

  • Cliffside viewpoints: Roadside observation points along the Suhua Highway offer sweeping ocean panoramas and dramatic vertical views of the cliffs.
  • Qingshui Mountain skyline: Look uprange to see Qingshui Mountain rising steeply from the ocean to create the towering cliff backdrop.
  • Marble pebble beaches: The shoreline below is scattered with marble boulders and pebbles formed by long-term coastal erosion.
  • Exposed metamorphic rock: Notice the layered marble, gneiss and green schist in the cliff faces that reveal the area’s tectonic history.
  • Suhua Highway vistas: The coastal road itself provides many framed views of sea and cliffs, with multiple pullouts for photos.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Qingshui Cliffs#

The clearest and most reliable visiting window is outside the heavy summer monsoon and typhoon season, when road conditions and visibility are generally better.

Winter (best)
November - February · 13°C - 22°C (55°F - 72°F)
Drier and cooler months with lower rainfall, offering more stable conditions and clearer sea views.
Spring
March - May · 16°C - 26°C (61°F - 79°F)
Mild temperatures with increasing humidity and occasional rain; still a good time for visits outside heavy rain events.
Monsoon and typhoon season (avoid if possible)
June - October · 20°C - 30°C (68°F - 86°F)
This period brings much heavier rainfall and a higher risk of storms, landslides and road closures affecting access and visibility.

Weather & Climate near Qingshui Cliffs#

Climate

Qingshui Cliffs's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 13°C to 30°C. Heavy rainfall (2400 mm/year), wettest in September.

Air Quality: AQI 45 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
34°
Warmest Month
11°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 13° - 18° 16° 92 mm overcast 79% 4.8 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.7h
February Good 14° - 18° 16° 112 mm overcast 81% 5.7 m/s 1.1 high 11.2h
March Good 16° - 20° 18° 117 mm overcast 80% 5.3 m/s 1.2 high 11.9h
April Good 18° - 24° 21° 129 mm overcast 82% 4.1 m/s 1.4 high 12.6h
May Good 21° - 26° 23° 240 mm overcast 84% 3.4 m/s 1.6 very high 13.2h
June Good 23° - 28° 25° 239 mm overcast 85% 3.6 m/s 2.0 very high 13.5h
July Very Good 24° - 30° 27° 215 mm partly cloudy 83% 3.8 m/s 2.3 extreme 13.4h
August Very Good 23° - 29° 26° 280 mm partly cloudy 82% 3.6 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.9h
September Very Good 22° - 28° 25° 364 mm partly cloudy 81% 3.6 m/s 1.7 very high 12.2h
October Very Good 20° - 25° 23° 346 mm partly cloudy 79% 4.4 m/s 1.3 high 11.5h
November Good 18° - 22° 20° 168 mm overcast 80% 5.6 m/s 1.0 moderate 10.8h
December Good 15° - 19° 17° 98 mm overcast 79% 4.8 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.5h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Qingshui Cliffs#

The nearest major urban center is Hualien City; the cliffs sit in Xiulin Township on the Hualien coast. The site is reached along the Suhua Highway that runs between Yilan and Hualien.

By rail the cliffs are accessible southwest from Heren Station on the Taiwan Railway; from Hualien or Heren you can continue the last stretch by local road transport, taxi or sightseeing bus depending on seasonal services and road conditions.

Tips for Visiting Qingshui Cliffs#

  • Visibility can change quickly; bring windproof and waterproof layers as weather and sea spray are common.
  • Heed safety signs and barriers - rockfall and erosion are natural hazards along the cliffs.
  • Facilities at viewpoints are limited; carry water and basic supplies and plan for no services at some pullouts.
  • Check road and rail conditions before travel, especially in the summer monsoon and typhoon months when closures are possible.